Rescue cats

abcdefghijklmnop

Hi All,

You were so helpful with my dog walking question for my mum that I thought I'd ask your opinions for myself.

My partner and I are looking to rescue either a cat or some cats. We both work full time so thought 2 might be the way forward (company) but when we went to the rescue they said some of the cats were far happier alone.

My partners always had cats so is pretty experienced and we feel we could give a nice home to some now we've moved out of his parents house.

The question is! How are you expected to choose?! I know a small kitten is probably inappropriate as we aren't around during the day. When we went to visit the rescue some cats rushed out to see us while others hid. Having heard the stories of them I don't wish to overlook the ones that are a bit shy as some were fine with the volunteers but just scared of new people.

My boyfriend has already ruled out rescuing all of them...

Any tips for choosing?

Thanks

Griizelda

Talk to the people who are looking after the cats. Hopefully they will have some idea of their personality and how they would fit in with your lifestyle. They may even have some background history if the cvats have been handed in, rather than just strays.

If you know which rescue you're going to rehome the cats from, try and see if you can spend some time with the cats - you may find they choose you, rather than the other way round! (I was once faced with a litter of six ginger and white kittens - one came and sat on my lap and made himself comfortable. Needless to say, he came home with me! (I also adopted another kitten from a different litter at the same time).

HTH

SailorSam

I commented in your dog thread Op but i don't like cats. You can't talk to them, well i suppose you can but they don't talk back, not like a dog.

abcdefghijklmnop

Haha! Before we moved into our own place we were living with a Weimaraner (Daisy). She definitely thinks she is human! If I work out how to post a picture I'll show you - she's beautiful and so so clever.

But given the hours we work it would be utterly cruel to get a dog at the minute... Just have to cope with visits and walks!

Cats may not speak back but they definitely let you know if they are happy with you or not! Totally different relationship - at the parents, Daisy thinks she is part of the family (which she is!) but the cat thinks she RUNS the family and would never lower herself to merely being part of it.

abcdefghijklmnop

Thanks Griizelda - the people running the place did suggest a few that might NOT be appropriate and some they said they wern't rehoming yet as they were investigating health issues / behaviour problems. They also said they wern't happy with us having kittens (although would consider if we took 2 for company).

I was hoping one would choose me - and one did run out and cuddle straight up to me! But I did feel for those that are just shy of new comers - the pictures on catchat show the volunteer couple holding them etc and they seem happy just shy. Understandable when they have been left.

There are just so many :-( and the rescue is doing a fantastic job of looking after their basic needs but it can't be ideal.

ItchyFeet

I think i would have to pick the quietest, most shy cat because i would be worried no one else would choose it!

gunsandbanjos

SailorSam wrote: »

I commented in your dog thread Op but i don't like cats. You can't talk to them, well i suppose you can but they don't talk back, not like a dog.

Lol, you've not met my cat! He is a total chatterbox:rotfl:

snozberry

SailorSam wrote: »

I commented in your dog thread Op but i don't like cats. You can't talk to them, well i suppose you can but they don't talk back, not like a dog.

I used to dislike cats with a passion. Well, that was until I acquired some of my own. Cats make fab pets and they do 'talk'. Ours chirrup in response to what we say all the time. They do listen and, I know that it sounds wierd, but my big bruiser of a Tom cat upped his affectionate qualities when my mum died. He just didn't leave my side at all.

gunsandbanjos

Hope you can get some lovely new additions. One of my cats is a rescue and she is one of the loveliest cats I've ever had.
She's fitted in really well and gets on great with my other cat, she was about a year old when we got her. She was really thin and a bit sad looking as she had been a stray but as soon as we walked in both my husband and I knew she was the one we wanted.

snozberry

I'd reconmend that you adopt a pair. You just know when you see the ones that you want. I know that isn't very helpful but it's how it worked with me.

rising_from_the_ashes

SailorSam wrote: »

i don't like cats. You can't talk to them, well i suppose you can but they don't talk back, not like a dog.

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Lol, you've not met my cat! He is a total chatterbox:rotfl:

You've not met mine either!:D Wee cat says "hello" and that's about it BUT big cat .... he "chatters" away all the time too!

snozberry wrote: »

I'd reconmend that you adopt a pair. You just know when you see the ones that you want. I know that isn't very helpful but it's how it worked with me.

Yup, totally agree Most rescues will have cats who've come in together and are looking to rehome them as a pair.

And .... yes, you will just know when you've found the "one" (or ones)